Mounting Press, Aspiration Device for a Mounting Press, and Modular Mounting Press System

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a mounting press for hot mounting a sample, comprising: a mounting cylinder which receives the sample and has a main cylinder axis and a cylinder opening, wherein the main cylinder axis extends inside the mounting cylinder and out through the cylinder opening, and a covering that extends around the cylinder opening, and a suction device for extracting granular material dust, granular material, or vapors, for example, wherein the suction device comprises a vacuum generator for providing a suction effect, and wherein the suction device is at least partly mounted on the covering or embedded in the covering.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a mounting press with a suction device, to asuction device for mounting presses, and to a modular mounting presssystem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mounting presses, for example for hot mounting samples are known per se,they are widely used in metallographic or materialographic analysis forthe preparation of workpieces for characterizing microstructures of, forexample, metallic materials by microscopic methods. However, mountingpresses are also used for the preparation of analyses of compositematerials or ceramic materials, for preparing a sample or workpiece bymeans of which, for example, a microreaction can be prepared and beingexamined by light or electron microscopy.

The hot mounting is basically intended to allow for a better handling ofthe samples and for supporting the edge zone or for infiltration ofcracks, pores, or corrosion coatings. Mounting aids may be used for thispurpose to fix samples, for example in an upright position.

Due to the steadily increasing interest in materialographic analysis ofmaterials, for example for the investigation of material failure or,more generally for quality control, and for extending the range ofapplications of mounting presses from pure metallography tomaterialography and the associated increase in the sample volume and themore intensive use of mounting presses, there is a continuing interestin improving mounting presses technically, for example with regard touser ergonomics. Also, work safety when using a mounting press issubject to constant improvement in order to avoid dangerous orhealth-impairing impacts.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Given this background, an object of the present invention is to providea mounting press for mounting a sample, for example for hot mounting asample, which provides for a more comfortable use of the mounting pressand eliminates annoying or even harmful dusts and/or vapors from themounting press. This makes the work easier for the user and increaseswork safety for the user. It is inexpensive, reliable, and durable.

Another aspect of the object of the invention is to provide anintegrated or integrable suction device which may, for example, also besuitable for being retrofitted to existing mounting presses.

Yet another aspect of the object of the invention is to provide amodular mounting press system for mounting samples, for example for hotmounting samples simultaneously, which provides for more comfortableoperation of the mounting press. By way of example, an object of theinvention is to make the handling and operation easier for the user andalso to enhance work safety. Also, it is cost-effective, reliable, anddurable, due to the bundling and rationalization as to expensivecomponents.

The object of the invention is solved by the subject matter of theindependent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention aredefined in the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a mounting press for hot mounting a sample inembedding material, typically in granular material. One or more samplescan be processed simultaneously in the mounting press.

The mounting press according to the invention comprises a mountingcylinder or pressing cylinder for receiving the sample. The mountingcylinder has a main cylinder axis and a cylinder opening, with the maincylinder axis extending inside the mounting cylinder and out of thecylinder opening.

Furthermore, the mounting press comprises a covering extending aroundthe cylinder opening. The covering may be a plane or flat surface which,for example, has a horizontal main extension direction. The cylinderopening may be recessed in the covering. Preferably, the coveringconstitutes a carriage support with laterally disposed carriage seatssuch as a sliding guide for receiving a sliding closure.

The mounting press according to the invention comprises a suction devicefor extracting granular material dust, granular material, or vapors, forexample, especially from the region around the cylinder opening. Forexample, the suction device is completely incorporated or integrated inthe mounting press. The suction device comprises a vacuum generator forproviding a suction effect and is at least partly mounted on thecovering or embedded in the covering or connected to the covering.

The covering is preferably a covering plate with the cylinder openingrecessed therein. The covering may also have a carriage guide for asliding carriage.

In this case, the suction device may be integrated in the slidingcarriage, at least partially. The extracted granular material dustand/or extracted vapors can preferably be passed through the slidingcarriage in such a preferred embodiment.

In a further embodiment, the suction device may comprise suctionopenings recessed in the covering plate, which are arranged around thecylinder opening recessed in the covering plate.

A vacuum generator may be arranged on the mounting press for providingthe suction effect.

In a further embodiment, a front side granular material compartment maybe provided for receiving granular material. For example, excessgranular material which has been introduced into the mounting cylinderin excess of the desired or maximum filling level of the mountingcylinder may be received therein. This may include residues that are notfitting through the suction opening. Preferably, the residues ofgranular material are conveyed into the granular material compartment bysliding the sliding carriage to and onto the cylinder opening prior tostarting or using the mounting press. During the sliding operation, thegranular material residues are gathered by the front face of the slidingcarriage and pushed over the covering and into the granular materialcompartment.

In one embodiment of a suction device for a mounting press, in which themounting press has amounting cylinder or pressing cylinder, a cylinderopening and a main cylinder axis extending through the mountingcylinder, a covering may be provided extending around the cylinderopening, and a vacuum generator to provide a suction effect. The vacuumgenerator is for example a fan device.

Furthermore, the suction device has at least one suction air passageconnected to the vacuum generator. The extracted air together with theextracted dust, granular material or vapors is discharged through thesuction air passage towards the vacuum generator.

The suction device comprises at least one suction opening that is incommunication with the suction air passage, which may be arrangedadjacent to the cylinder opening such that a suction effect can beachieved in the region of the cylinder opening. Moreover, the suctiondevice may be at least partly mounted on the covering or embedded in thecovering.

In a further example, the suction device may be adapted to unfold thesuction effect directly in the region of the cylinder opening of themounting cylinder. For this purpose, the at least one suction openingmay be recessed in the covering laterally spaced apart from the cylinderopening. The at least one suction opening may as well be recessed orprovided in the covering concentrically around the cylinder opening.

The covering is preferably a covering plate and has a carriage guide fora sliding carriage.

In a suction device comprising a sliding carriage that can be movedtransversely to the cylinder axis, for example in a carriage guide ofthe covering plate, the at least one or a further suction opening may beprovided on the sliding carriage. For example, the suction opening isarranged on a front side of the sliding carriage, so that the suctiondevice achieves an effect directed directly towards the region of thecylinder opening when the sliding carriage is in a suction position inwhich the cylinder opening is not covered by the sliding carriage.

The at least one suction opening may be connected to the suction airpassage through the sliding carriage. For example, the sliding carriagethen comprises at least one sliding carriage passage which connects theat least one suction opening to the suction air passage by extendingthrough the sliding carriage. Optionally, it is possible for the slidingcarriage to additionally have a suction position in which the at leastone suction air opening is in communication with the vacuum devicethrough the sliding carriage so as to be exposed to an extractingnegative pressure thereby.

The sliding carriage may have a position of use in which the slidingcarriage covers the cylinder opening, i.e. is flush with the cylinderopening so as to preferably completely cover it.

The suction device may provide for vapor extraction so as to suck offvapors that are generated during the pressing operation of the mountingpress. In this case, the sliding carriage may be adapted so that thesuction effect unfolds in the region of the cylinder opening when thesliding carriage is in the position of use. For this purpose, thesliding carriage may have sliding carriage passages which are incommunication with the suction air passage of the suction device in theposition of use of the sliding carriage.

At least part of the suction air passage may be embedded in the coveringplate so that the suction air passage extends through the covering plateand/or at least partly extends through the covering plate.

In a further example, the suction device may furthermore comprise afilter element which is preferably arranged at the vacuum generator.Such a filter element allows to filter granulate material dusts,granular material or possibly vapors from the extracted air. Dependingon the configuration of the suction device, the filter element mayoptionally be selected with regard to the filter effect, the mesh sizeof the filter.

In one example, the suction device may furthermore comprise at least onefurther mounting press with a further cylinder opening, in which casethe vacuum generator is a shared vacuum generator. In this example, thesuction device is adapted to unfold the suction effect directly in theregion of the cylinder opening of the mounting cylinder and at the sametime at the further cylinder opening of the at least one furthermounting press.

In an extended exemplary embodiment, the mounting press with extractiondevice may also comprise a sliding closure.

For this purpose, the mounting press comprises amounting cylinder orpressing cylinder for receiving the sample. The mounting cylinder has amain cylinder axis and a cylinder opening, with the main cylinder axisextending inside the mounting cylinder and out of the cylinder opening.

The mounting press furthermore preferably comprises the sliding closurewith a sliding carriage, an upper piston and a closing lever operativelyconnected to the upper piston. The sliding carriage is configured so asto be displaceable in a direction transverse, for example perpendicular,relative to the main cylinder axis, it is preferably displaced using theclosing lever. In other words, the closing lever is designed to bemanually actuated so that the sliding carriage of the sliding closurecan be easily displaced in a direction transverse relative to the maincylinder axis when gripping the closing lever. In this way, the slidingcarriage can be brought into a position of use of the sliding carriage,in which the upper piston can be driven to or into the cylinder openingof the mounting cylinder.

In this case, the closing lever may have at least one open position andone closed position and can be transferred from the open position intothe closed position, for example manually. In a preferred embodiment,the transferring of the closing lever from the open position to theclosed position and back is only possible in the position of use of thecarriage. In this case, a detent or closing lever lock may be providedto block the closing lever when the sliding carriage occupies a positionother than the position of use. The sliding carriage can then be movedfreely by means of the closing lever, for example along a carriagesupport, however, the closing lever will preferably be blocked frombeing transferred from the open position to the closed position and onlyreleased when the sliding carriage is in the position of use. Theclosing lever may as well be configured so as to be in a detent positionin a way so that the detent is overcome by the tensile force applied onthe closing lever of the sliding carriage by a hand to be transferredfrom the open position to the closed position.

The closing lever cooperates with the upper piston such that the upperpiston closes the cylinder opening when the closing lever is transferredfrom the open position to the closed position when the sliding carriageis in the position of use. The upper piston closes the cylinder openingfor example in a force absorbing manner or with over-center locking,while allowing gases and vapors that may arise in the sample or duringthe preparation of the sample to escape. In other words, the closinglever allows to easily put the mounting press into operational readinessby moving the sliding carriage into the position of use and moving theclosing lever into the closed position.

The main cylinder axis of the cylinder is preferably the cylinder'scentral axis, i.e. the axis extending centrally through the cylinderalong the mathematical height extension. In the position of use of thesliding carriage, the main cylinder axis then preferably extendscentrally through the upper piston. In other words, in the position ofuse, the upper piston is or can be aligned with the cylinder opening ofthe mounting cylinder by means of the sliding carriage.

The mounting press preferably comprises a carriage support. In a firstembodiment, the carriage support is a flat or planar surface along or onwhich the sliding carriage is displaceable. The cylinder opening ispreferably recessed in the carriage support. That is, the carriagesupport surrounds the cylinder opening all around, preferably in a planewhich also includes an exit surface of the cylinder opening, in otherwords, the exit surface of the cylinder opening and the carriage supportdefine a common plane. Thus, the carriage support is preferably arrangedtransversely to the cylinder axis in its main extension direction, forexample it is arranged perpendicular thereto.

Furthermore, the sliding closure is preferably displaceable along thecarriage support and can be positioned over the cylinder opening.

The invention furthermore relates to a sliding closure for a mountingpress that comprises a mounting cylinder having a cylinder opening and amain cylinder axis extending through the mounting cylinder. The slidingclosure comprises an upper piston arranged in the sliding closure, and aclosing lever operatively connected to the upper piston, and a slidingcarriage configured to be displaceable in a direction transverse, forexample perpendicular to the main cylinder axis, which is adapted todrive the upper piston to or into the cylinder opening of the mountingcylinder in a position of use of the sliding carriage.

The upper piston has at least one open position and one closed positionand can be transferred from the open position to the closed position.Preferably, the upper piston can be transferred from the open positionto the closed position in the position of use of the carriage.

The closing lever cooperates with the upper piston such that by movingthe closing lever the upper piston is moved from the open position tothe closed position and closes the cylinder opening when the slidingcarriage is in the position of use. In other words, the closing lever isin an open position when the upper piston is in the open position and isin a closed position when the upper piston is in the closed position.

The closing lever preferably has a closure shaft. The closure shaftdefines the bearing or fulcrum of the closing lever, and an applicationof force such as by manual actuation of the closing lever can betransferred, via the closure shaft, for example to the upper piston, forclosing the mounting press.

The upper piston is transferred from the open position to the closedposition by a pivotal movement of the closing lever around the closureshaft.

The closure shaft furthermore preferably has an eccentric component. Theeccentric component is mounted on the same axis as the closure shaft,for example, and co-rotates with the rotation of the closure shaft.Alternatively, the closure shaft is an eccentric shaft, for example soas to have a cam and thus being a camshaft or, more generally, so as tohave a variable cross section over its extension direction. Thus theclosure shaft is adapted to transfer the upper piston from the openposition to the closed position, directly or indirectly.

Furthermore preferably, the closure shaft is arranged adjacent to theupper piston such that the closure shaft acts directly on the upperpiston during the transfer of the upper piston from the open positioninto the closed position to move it in such a way that it closes thecylinder opening. For example, the closure shaft is arranged directlyabove the upper piston, and the cam or the eccentric component bears onthe upper piston. Upon rotation of the closure shaft and thus rotationof the cam or the eccentric components, a lowering force is exerted onthe upper piston in this example, whereby the upper piston is moved intothe mounting cylinder when the sliding carriage is in the position ofuse.

The sliding closure furthermore preferably comprises at least onecompressible element, for example a spring element, for providing aretaining force for at least temporarily holding the upper piston ineither the open position or the closed position. In other words, the oneor more spring element(s) hold the upper piston in the open position,for example, and press it against the cam or against the eccentriccomponent. If the lowering force of the eccentric component or cam tothe upper piston exceeds the retaining force of the compressibleelement, for example caused by actuation of the closing lever, the upperpiston is transferred to the closed position, i.e. it is moved into themounting cylinder by the eccentric component or the cam or the closinglever.

Preferably, the upper piston can take a dead center position between theopen position and the closed position, and the upper piston can bereliably held in the respective open position or closed position whenthe piston is driven to a position beyond the dead center position bymeans of the closing lever.

The sliding carriage furthermore preferably has a service position inwhich the cylinder opening is completely cleared, and in the serviceposition the sliding carriage can for example be tilted about a serviceaxis. More preferably, the sliding carriage can be locked in the tiltedposition.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the sliding carriage comprises asensor device for detecting the position of the sliding carriage. Thesensor device can, for example, be used to detect whether the positionof use or the service position has been occupied by the slidingcarriage. Furthermore, for example, the position information of thesliding carriage can be output to a controller of the mounting press,and the operation of the mounting press can be controlled in response tothe position information, for example only if the sliding carriageand/or the closing lever are in the closed position or the position ofuse.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the sliding closure comprises acarriage support along which the sliding carriage is displaceable andwhich has a carriage seat or a sliding guide for receiving and guidingthe sliding carriage. In one example, the carriage support is a flat orplane surface having laterally disposed carriage seats such as a slidingguide.

Furthermore, the sliding closure may be equipped with a front sidecompartment for granular material, and excess granular material istransferred into the granular material compartment for example by thedisplacement of the sliding carriage into the position of use.

The granular material compartment may be configured so as to beremovable, and the granular material compartment for example has amagnetic holder for being attached to the carriage support for easilyemptying the excess granular material collected in the granular materialcompartment.

The invention furthermore relates to a mounting press comprising asliding closure as described above.

According to yet another aspect of embodiments of the mounting press, amodular mounting press system for hot mounting of samples is described.In a mounting press for hot mounting a sample in embedding material,typically in granular material, one or more samples may be processedsimultaneously in the mounting press. The mounting press comprises amounting cylinder for receiving the sample. The mounting cylinder mayhave a main cylinder axis and a cylinder opening, wherein the maincylinder axis extends inside the mounting cylinder and out through thecylinder opening.

According to this further embodiment aspect of the mounting press, themodular mounting press system comprises a basic module for controllingat least one external mounting press, and a first external mountingpress separate from the basic module and having a first mountingcylinder for receiving samples.

In this case, the basic module comprises a central input device forentering control data for the at least one external mounting press, acentral power supply port for connecting the modular mounting presssystem to an external power supply, and a power distributor forproviding the electrical power to the at least one external mountingpress.

The modular mounting press system may furthermore comprise a hydraulicdistributor for supplying cooling water to the at least one externalmounting press.

The basic module may furthermore comprise at least one mounting pressconnector for electrically connecting the at least one external mountingpress to the basic module for transferring both the electrical powerrequired by the at least one external mounting press and control datafor controlling the at least one external mounting press.

In another embodiment, the basic module may comprise a basic modulemounting press accommodated in a shared basic module housing. In otherwords, this is an internal mounting press in the basic module housing,which is integrated with the control device of the basic module.

The power distributor may be configured to distribute the electricalpower to the basic module mounting press and to the at least oneexternal mounting press while taking into account a prioritization orderthat can be predetermined by the central controller. In other words, thecentral controller may define a sequence of allocation of the electricalpower to the respective internal or external mounting press, for exampleby user input or by programming. This makes it possible, for example, tooperate the modular mounting press system on a smaller dimensionedelectrical power supply and nevertheless put all mounting presses intooperation such that time delays are kept as small as possible. In otherwords, advantageously, the complete modular mounting press system canthus be operated on a common or standard electrical power grid. Forexample, the mounting presses typically need the full electrical poweronly during the heating process, while during the cooling process theyonly need considerably lower electrical power.

The power distributor of the modular mounting press system mayfurthermore be configured to distribute the electrical power to thebasic module mounting press and to the at least one external mountingpress in a clocked manner when a predetermined amount of electricalpower is reached or exceeded. In other words, the power distributor maybe adapted to distribute the electric power to the mounting presses soas to not exceed a total amount of electric power that is needed fromthe external power grid. If, for example, the power distributorrecognizes, based on the data made available by the central controller,that a heating process of an external mounting press is still continuingbut is about to be completed, this heating process as a process A may beassigned a priority A. The desired start of a process B, for example ofa further heating process, may then be started by the central controllereither with a delay, i.e. a desired heating process as a process B isstarted only when the process A requires less electrical power andsufficient energy is available for starting the process B. In otherwords, process B which is controlled in prioritized manner is notstarted before process A starts to operate in a clocked manner and thusa free clock is available for the process B. In another case, process Bmay be started immediately and the electrical power can be distributed,by the power distributor, to the processes A and B in such a manner thatboth processes are optionally operated at reduced power or in a mixedclocked manner. This may be achieved by the clocked distribution ofelectrical power.

The at least one mounting press connector, the central power supplyport, and the hydraulic distributor may all be arranged on a rear sideof the basic module, for example.

Furthermore preferably, two or three external mounting presses areconnectable to the basic module. All external mounting presses may becontrolled and supplied with electrical power by the basic module.Particularly advantageously, the external mounting presses do no longerrequire a complete process control unit, since all the process controlcomponents are accommodated in the basic module. This allows to achievea significant reduction in system costs. At the same time, ergonomicsfor the user can be enhanced by enabling to start and manage allprocesses from a central system. For example, this can come into playwhen the plurality of mounting presses are intended to carry out thesame process in parallel and the user has to manually enter the processparameters only once for the first process, while it can then use theparameters already entered into the central controller for programmingthe further identical processes. Also, the user can be relieved by onlyhaving to take into account one control and operating unit and bygetting displayed the operation parameters of all mounting presses ofthe modular mounting press system at one combined location there.

In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one external mountingpress can have an indicator device for indicating the operating state,for example a color-changing indicator device. Such an indicator devicemay be implemented, for example, by providing aluminous color, forexample by a four-color lamp or four LEDs of different color values. Forexample, operating conditions of an external mounting press to beindicated would be (1) heating mode, for example by red color, (2) readyfor receiving or ready state, for example by green color, (3) coolingmode, for example by blue color, and (4) not ready or lid open state, bywhite color. However, the indicator device may also be used to implementthe indication of other and/or further operating states. Thedecentralized indicator device arranged on the respective mounting presscan thus provide the user with a quick first overview of the basic stateof any of the mounting presses of the modular mounting press system,while the exact status data and further information continue to bedisplayed or made available at the central input device on the basicmodule.

Furthermore preferably, the at least one external mounting press maycomprise a decentralized control button. Such a decentralized controlbutton can be used, for example, to select, for the central inputdevice, the mounting press to be displayed, set or programmed. Thus,this is a particularly advantageous and user-friendly embodimentfeaturing a combination of central control of the process parameters anddecentralized selection of the parameters to be set at the central inputdevice.

Furthermore preferably, the decentralized control button may at the sametime comprise the indicator device mentioned above. This may beachieved, for example, by providing an illuminable control button on therespective mounting press, with the color state of the control buttonrepresenting the operating state of the respective mounting press. Thismay also be achieved by providing the control button with aluminous ringor color ring around the control button, with the color ringrepresenting the operating state of the respective mounting press basedon the presented color. This allows the user to identify, at a glance,the basic operation state of all mounting presses of the modularmounting press system. If the user desires any information about amounting press or any changes in the operation process of a mountingpress, then the respective mounting press can be selected via thecontrol button and the respective process parameters can be entered atthe central input device.

The basic module mounting press and/or the at least one externalmounting press may comprise a sliding closure.

The modular mounting press system may furthermore be equipped with acentral suction device including a suction manifold for connecting thebasic module mounting press and the at least one external mounting pressto the central suction device.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that although theinvention is particularly advantageous for mounting presses, it can inprinciple also be used for other machines. The latter shall not beexcluded.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of exemplaryembodiments and with reference to the figures in which the same andsimilar elements are partially designated by the same referencenumerals, while the features of the various exemplary embodiments can becombined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a mounting press withclosed closing lever;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevational view of a mounting press;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a mounting press with the closinglever closed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective top view of a mounting press with the closinglever closed;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of a mounting press with the closinglever closed;

FIG. 6 is another sectional view of a mounting press with the closinglever closed;

FIG. 7 is yet another sectional view of a mounting press with theclosing lever closed;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a mounting press with the closing lever ina turning point position;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevational view of a mounting press with theclosing lever in the turning point position;

FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of amounting press according to theinvention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional front view of amounting press according to theinvention;

FIG. 12 is a view of a mounting press;

FIG. 13 is a schematic side elevational view of a mounting press withthe closing lever opened;

FIG. 14 is a schematic front elevational view of a mounting press withthe closing lever opened;

FIG. 15 is a sectional side view of a mounting press with the closinglever opened;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a mounting press with the closing leveropened;

FIG. 17 is another perspective view of a mounting press with the closinglever opened;

FIG. 18 is a sectional side view of a mounting press with the closinglever opened;

FIG. 19 is a schematic side view of a mounting press with slidingcarriage in service position;

FIG. 20 is a sectional side view of a mounting press with slidingcarriage in service position;

FIG. 21 is a schematic front elevational view of a mounting press withthe sliding carriage in service position;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a mounting press with the slidingcarriage in service position;

FIG. 23 is another perspective view of a mounting press with slidingcarriage in service position;

FIG. 24 is a sectional side view of a mounting press with suctiondevice;

FIG. 25 is another sectional side view of a mounting press with suctiondevice;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a mounting press with suction device;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a mounting press with suction deviceand filing funnel;

FIG. 28 is a sectional side view of a further embodiment of a mountingpress with suction device and filling funnel;

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of the rear side of a modular mounting presssystem;

FIG. 30 shows an external mounting press of a modular mounting presssystem;

FIG. 31 shows a basic module of a modular mounting press system;

FIG. 32 shows a modular mounting press system with basic module andexternal mounting press;

FIG. 33 shows a further arrangement of a modular mounting press systemwith basic module and external mounting press;

FIG. 34 shows a modular mounting press system with basic module andthree external mounting presses;

FIG. 35 is a schematic flowchart for the power control of a plurality ofmounting presses;

FIG. 36 is a further flowchart of a filling assistant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a first side elevational view of asliding closure device 120 of a mounting press 100 according to thepresent invention, with closed closing lever 130. The closing lever 130is mounted on a closure shaft 132 that is arranged on an upper side ofthe sliding carriage 134. In the present example, closure shaft 132 iscovered on the outer surface by a rotary part 72. The sliding carriage134 can be moved along the carriage support 136 and is arranged in theposition of use, so that the mounting cylinder 10 is closed by thesliding closure 120.

FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view of the sliding closure device 120shown in FIG. 1, with the closing lever 130 closed. Section marks B-Band A-A indicate the sectional planes of FIGS. 3 and 7, respectively.Suction openings 152 of the suction device 150 are arranged on the frontside of sliding carriage 134, in the present example five suctionopenings arranged next to each other.

FIG. 3 shows the sectional plane B-B of FIG. 2 with the closure device120 in the position of use and with the closing lever 130 in the closedposition. The upper piston 27 is engaged in the cylinder 10 so that thecylinder opening 12 (cf. FIG. 15, for example) is closed. Closure shaft132 extends across sliding carriage 134.

On the front side of carriage support 136, a granular materialcompartment 1 is provided for collecting excess granular material. Whenthe sliding carriage 134 is moved to the position of use, itautomatically pushes excess granular material into it.

On the front side of sliding carriage 134, a suction opening 152 isshown, which merges into a sliding carriage passage 154 inside thesliding carriage 134.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective schematic view of the closure device 120 inthe closed position of the closing lever 130 as above. In the closedposition, the upper piston covering 128 terminates flush with the uppersurface of sliding carriage 134. FIG. 5 shows a further perspectiveschematic view of the closure device 120 holding closed the cylinder 10.

FIG. 6 shows a further sectional view, the section being taken along aplane extending centrally through the upper piston covering 128, closureshaft 132, and cylinder 10 in FIG. 3. Closure shaft 132 has a variablecross section along its extension direction. Closure shaft 132 hasrecesses 142 in which spring elements 144 are engaging. The springelements 144 generate a restoring force that holds the upper piston 27and thus the closing lever 130 either in the closed position or in theopen position, similar to a kind of “over-center locking”. Furthermore,FIG. 6 shows a carriage guide 122 on both sides of the cylinder 10,guiding the sliding carriage 134 along its direction of displacement(out of the plane of the sheet).

Finally, FIG. 7 shows a sectional view along section line A-A indicatedin FIG. 2. In this region of its extension, the closure shaft 132 hastwo flattened areas 132 a and 132 b. Between them, the closure shaft 132has a protrusion, that is to say a cam 132 c. The flexible element 144presses against the flattened region 132 a, thus creating a retainingforce such that the closure shaft 132 is retained in the closedposition. By adjusting the spring force or pressing force of theflexible element 144 against the closure shaft 132, it is possible tocontrol or adjust the disengaging force that has to be applied torelease the closing lever 130 from the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 8, the closure device 120 remains in the turning pointposition in which the disengagement force for releasing the closinglever 130 from the closed position has just been applied or the closinglever 130, when guided toward the closed position, is pulled into theclosed position by the now increasing retaining force of the flexibleelement 144. Thus, the movement of the closing lever into the two endpositions “open position” and “closed position” is “pulling anddetenting”. So, a rotation of the closure shaft 132 beyond the deadpoint results in a chocking of the closure device 120 and hence also ofthe upper piston 27 which is directly operatively connected to theclosure device. When in the closed position of the sliding closure 120the mounting cylinder 10 is subjected to cylinder pressure, thiscylinder pressure will generate an additional retaining force on theengagement of the flexible element 144 with the flattened area 132 a, sothat finally the sliding closure 120 cannot be opened by hand duringoperation of the mounting press 100. Furthermore, FIG. 9 shows a sideelevational view of the closure device 120 in the turning pointposition.

Referring to FIG. 10, a sectional side view is shown of a mounting press100 with the sliding closure device 120 in the position of use of thesliding carriage 134 and the closed position of closing lever 130, inthis example lever 60. The cylinder 10 is divided into a sample cylinder10 a and a pressure cylinder 10 b and comprises a cylinder tube 53. Onthe front side, the granular material compartment 1 is provided toreceive excess granular material. Cam guide 4 and cam lock 5 togetherdefine a movement space 124 for the closure shaft 132, in the presentexample implemented by eccentric bolt 66.

For heating and cooling a sample (not shown) inserted in the cylinder10, a heating/cooling unit 14 is arranged laterally of the pressingregion. Heating/cooling unit 14 annularly surrounds the cylinder 10. Theheating/cooling unit 14 is supplied with water through hose lines 34(cf. FIG. 12, for example). A press mold 63 with a specific diameter isinserted into the sample cylinder. Press mold 63 is exchangeable inorder to account for different sample diameters. In the present example,a 50 mm press mold 63 is used.

The lower pressure cylinder 10 b has a cylinder head 16 and a cylinderbottom 17. A piston 18 is movably disposed within the pressure cylinder10 b. Piston 18 is connected to the upper-lower piston 23 through apiston rod 19 such that a change in the position of the piston 18induces a change in the position of the upper-lower piston 23. The upperpiston 27, in this case a pressing piston 27, is positioned by thesliding closure 120 and blocked by the pressure built up in the samplecylinder 10 a. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to or returned from thepressure cylinder 10 b through high-pressure hose 55, for examplethrough hydraulic port 70.

The closing lever 130, in this case a lever 60, may have a grip surface46 for improving haptics.

A first position sensor 56 such as a proximity switch 56 may be used inthe carriage support 136. In the present example, the proximity switch56 is adapted to identify whether the support plate 74 is retracted oris extended, which means that the sliding carriage 134 may have taken upa service position (cf. FIGS. 18 to 23, for example). In order to takeup the service position, the sliding carriage 134 is displaced on thecarriage support 136 as far as to the pivot plate 59 and is pivotedabout the axis 73 on the pivot plate 59. Here, the position sensor 56 isimplemented as an inductive proximity switch 56, e.g. with a normallyopen design.

In the present example, a covering plate 61 is inserted in the carriagesupport 136, which covers the suction connection passage 156 embedded inthe carriage support. A suction covering 68 is attached to the slidingcarriage 134 in this example.

The position of use of the sliding carriage 134 is detected by a frontside position sensor 30 which for example is an inductive positionsensor 30.

Referring to FIG. 11, which shows the embodiment of FIG. 10 in asectional front view in which the same reference numerals designate thesame elements. Sliding carriage 134 is in the position of use, and lever60 is in the closed position. Carriage guide 122 is implemented by aslide guide 64 in this embodiment, so as to engage around the guide pins123 of the sliding carriage 134 and so as to provide for a reliableguidance of the sliding carriage 134 on the carriage support 136.

In the closed position, the closure shaft 132 has a respective recess142 on its lower surface on either side of the sample cylinder 10 a, ineach of which a spring element 144 is engaged, in the present case aspring compressor 71.

The heating/cooling unit 14 is supplied with cooling water through hoses34.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a mounting press 100 with slidingclosure 120 in the position of use, in which the cylinder opening 11(cf. FIG. 15, for example) is completely closed. Due to the engagementof the upper piston 27 in the sample cylinder 10 a and the establishedpressure in the sample cylinder 10 a, the sliding closure 120 is held inthe closed position. Here, the sliding carriage 134 builds up pressureon the carriage guide 122, optionally via the guide pins 123, and isthus supported by the carriage support 136.

In the open position of the sliding closure 120, the sliding carriage134 can be displaced along the carriage support 136 as far as to a rearend position in which the guide pins 123 no longer engage in thecarriage guide 122, since the carriage guide 122 extends only over aportion of the carriage support 136.

In the rear end position, the sliding carriage 134 can then be pivotedabout the pivot axis, while it is supported on the pivot plate 59.Latching in the service position can be achieved by means of the supportplate 74.

FIG. 13 shows a side elevational view of the mounting press 100 with thesliding closure displaced toward the rear end position, so that thecylinder opening (cf. FIG. 15, for example) is cleared. In FIG. 13, theclosing lever 130 has a closing lever sensor 80 integrated therein,which together with the second closing lever sensor 82 allows forposition recognition of the closing lever 130. For example, the closinglever sensor 80 can be used for querying the closed position of theclosing lever. FIG. 14 shows a front elevational view with the sameposition of the sliding carriage 134.

Referring to FIG. 15, a sectional side view is shown of a portion of themounting press 100 with the sliding carriage in the position describedin conjunction with FIG. 13. The mounting press 100 of the embodimentshown in FIG. 15 comprises a suction device 150 which is ready foroperation in the suction position of the sliding carriage 134 shown inthe figure. Suction opening 152 is in communication with the suctionconnection passage 156 embedded in the covering 136 or carriage support136 through the sliding carriage passage. Suction air passage 158directly follows said connection passage 156.

FIG. 15 furthermore shows the cylinder axis 12. Moreover, the granularmaterial compartment 1 shown in FIG. 15 contains granular material 180that was introduced into it by the sliding carriage 134.

Referring to FIG. 16, the suction position of sliding carriage 134 isillustrated by another perspective view. In this example, 5 suctionopenings 152 are incorporated in the front side of sliding carriage 134.FIG. 17 also illustrates the suction position of the sliding carriage134 by way of yet another perspective view.

Referring to FIG. 18, the closing lever 130 is illustrated with theclosure shaft 132 in the open position. Flexible element 144 engages onthe flattened area 132 b of the closure shaft and thus exerts aretaining force on the closing lever 130. In order to transfer theclosing lever 130 from the open position to the closed position, theflexible element 144 has to be diverted downwards, as seen in thedrawing plane of FIG. 18, by application of a force, and the forceapplied to the closing lever 130 is optionally amplified by the cam 132c of closure shaft 132 and is transferred to the flexible element 144,FIG. 19 illustrates the service position of sliding carriage 134, whilethe sliding carriage 134 is supported in the service position by supportplate 74 hinged to carriage support 136.

FIG. 20 shows a further embodiment of the mounting press 100 with asliding carriage 134 in the service position, and in this embodiment thesupport plate 74 is hinged to the sliding carriage 134 and is supportedin the recess in the carriage support 136. In this position, the closureshaft 132 is completely offset to one side within the movement space124.

Referring to FIGS. 21 to 23, the mounting press 100 is shown from thefront side with the closure device 120 in the service position, alsoillustrating the easy accessibility of the upper piston 27 from thebottom. Here, one embodiment of suction device 150 is additionallyillustrated. Suction openings 152 open into the sliding carriage passage154. If the sliding carriage 134 is in the suction position, thelower-side opening of the sliding carriage passage 154 is aligned flushwith the recess of suction connection passage 156, so that anunderpressure generated on the bottom side will cause a suction effectat the suction openings 152 through the suction connection passage 156and the sliding carriage passage 154. FIG. 22 shows a perspective viewof this embodiment, FIG. 23 likewise shows the mounting press 100 withthe closure device 120 in the service position in a further perspectiveview. FIGS. 22 and 23 clearly show the position sensor 30 at the frontside, which detects the position of the sliding carriage 134 in theposition of use.

Referring to FIG. 24, the mounting press 100 is shown in a sectionalside view, with the sliding carriage 134 in the suction position.Suction opening 152 opens into the sliding carriage passage 154 which,in the suction position, in turn opens into the suction connectionpassage 156 embedded in the carriage support 136. Below suctionconnection passage 156, a suction air passage 158 is provided, whichextracts the exhaust air, possibly with vapors and/or dusts, toward avacuum generator 160. Downstream of vacuum generator 160 in the exhaustair direction, a suction filter 162 is arranged. This arrangement isadvantageous, for example, if the suction device 150 is intended forextracting vapors. The suction filter 162 may, for example, as well bearranged at a suitable location within the suction air passage 158 andupstream of the vacuum generator 160, for example if larger particlesare expected in the exhaust air in addition to dust, so that damage tothe vacuum generator is avoided.

Referring to FIG. 25, a further embodiment of the mounting press 100 isshown with a sliding closure 120 in the closed position, and a suctiondevice 150 is implemented, which ensures suction operation even in theclosed position and for example during operation and heating operationof the mounting press. The suction opening 152 is disposed around theupper piston 27. Optionally, the front side suction opening which was inuse in the suction position of the sliding carriage 134 is closed by asuction cover 155 which is advantageously arranged or attached on theclosing lever 130. Thus, the closing lever 130 does not only close themounting press 100 for starting the operation, but also seals the frontside suction openings 152 so that the vacuum generator 160 canconcentrate the suction effect for the operation of the mounting press100 to the region of the cylinder opening 11. So if, for example, vaporsescape from the sample cylinder 10 a during the heating operation andhence during the melting process of the granular material, which vaporsmight be harmful to the environment or harmful to health, the suctiondevice 150 of the present embodiment is able to accommodate suchinfluences as well, so that the application experience of the mountingpress is improved.

Referring to FIG. 26, another embodiment of the mounting press 100 withsliding closure 120 is shown, which includes suction openings 152introduced in the covering 136′ and in the carriage support 136,respectively. In this example, the suction openings are arrangedconcentrically around the cylinder opening 11. A suction effect at thesuction openings 152 can be generated from below the covering 136′through a suction air passage 158 that is provided there.

FIG. 27 shows yet another embodiment of the mounting press 100, with afunnel 170 inserted in the cylinder opening 11 for filling granularmaterial 180. The funnel may be connected to the vacuum device 160through the suction air passage 158 in order to remove dusts directlyduring the filling using a funnel.

Referring to FIG. 28, another embodiment of the mounting press 100 isshown, with the funnel 170 inserted for filling granular material 180into the cylinder opening 11, and the funnel is connected to the suctiondevice 150. The suction opening 152′ provided on the funnel andannularly extending around the lower funnel opening of the funnel 170 isin communication with a funnel suction air passage 158′. The fillingfunnel 170 may now preferably be positioned such that the funnel suctionair passage 158′ can be aligned with the suction opening 152 provided inthe sliding carriage 134. The vacuum generator 160 can thusadvantageously provide an extracting low pressure on the funnel 170 aswell.

Referring to FIG. 29, an embodiment of the modular mounting press system106 is shown in a rear view, comprising an internal mounting press 102arranged in the basic module 101 and three external mounting presses104. All mounting presses 102, 104 have a sliding closure 120 and arearranged directly adjacent to one another.

The basic module 101 has three mounting press connectors 108 on the rearside, for transferring both the electrical power required by theexternal mounting presses 104 and control data for controlling theexternal mounting presses 104. Furthermore, the basic module 101 has acentral power supply port 110 for supplying all the mounting presses100, 102, 104 with electrical power from the external power supply, suchas the public power grid. Furthermore, the basic module 101 comprises acooling water inlet 112 and a cooling water return line 114, which aresupplied either from an external water supply or a circulation circuitwith heat exchanger, for example. The modular mounting press system 106comprises a water busbar 116, 118 for connecting the mounting presses102, 104. Furthermore, central suction 164 is provided, which can becontrolled and adjusted from the basic module 101.

FIGS. 30 to 34 show different variants of operation of the modularmounting press system. FIG. 30 shows a single external mounting press104 for being connected to a basic module 101 according to theinvention. The external mounting press 104 comprises the sliding closure120. Furthermore, the external mounting press 104 is equipped with acontrol button 96 and an indicator device 98.

FIG. 31 shows a basic module 101 comprising an internal mounting press102. The basic module 101 has a central input device 94 which can beused to program and control the internal and external mounting presses102, 104. Furthermore, the basic module has a control button 96 and anindicator device 98. The indicator device is implemented as a light ring98 arranged around the control button 96. Furthermore provided in thebasic module 101 is the central control device 92 which generates andoutputs control parameters for the internal and external mountingpresses 102, 104. Furthermore, a power distributor 91 is provided in thebasic module 101, through which the electrical power provided by thebasic module 101 is distributed to the internal and external mountingpresses 102, 104,

FIG. 32 shows a modular mounting press system 106 comprising an internalmounting press 102 and an external mounting press 104. Both mountingpresses 102, 104 are equipped with the sliding closure 120 and a controlbutton 96 and an indicator device 98. The basic module 101 furthermorehas a central input device 94 for programming and controlling allmounting presses 102, 104 connected to the basic module. FIG. 33 showsanother alternative arrangement of the modular mounting press system 106with an internal mounting press 102 and an external mounting press 104.

Finally, FIG. 34 shows a modular mounting press system 106 comprising aninternal mounting press 102 and three external mounting presses 104,each of which is controlled and programmed by the basic module 101 andsupplied with electrical power by the basic module 101. The respectivemounting presses 102, 104 may be configured identical to each other.However, the respective mounting presses 102, 104 may also be configureddifferently with regard to the closure system 120 or the suction device150. With this system, it is moreover easily possible, for example, toprovide different press molds 63 in the mounting presses 102, 104, sothat different mounting presses 102, 104 can be employed for differentsample diameters without having to exchange the press mold 63.

FIG. 35 shows a simple flowchart for the modular mounting press system106. In a first step 202, a process starts. For example, the processstart may mean that one or more mounting presses 102, 104 of the modularmounting press system 106 are already in operation and the user hasactivated a further mounting press 102, 104 via the central input device94. The basic module 101 comprises the central control device 92 whichis used to control the mounting presses 102, 104. Control device 92 nowchecks, in step 204, how many mounting presses 102, 104 have to besupplied with electrical power by the basic module 101, for example onthe basis of the data provided by the power distributor 91. In thepresent example, prioritization of power distribution is only applied if4 or more mounting units 102, 104 are operated. If less than 4 mountingunits 102, 104 are connected or are in operation, prioritization ofpower distribution will not be necessary in this example, and theflowchart jumps to step 220, the end. The flowchart is based on the ideathat if 3 or fewer mounting units are operated in parallel, sufficientpower will be available for simultaneous full operation of all mountingunits 102, 104.

If the response to the query for 4 or more mounting units 102, 104 ispositive, the next query made in step 206 will be as to whether all ofthe at least 4 heating/cooling units 14 of the at least 4 mounting units102, 104 have to be supplied with power. If not all of theheating/cooling units 14 are operated in parallel, the flowchart loopsback to regularly check the status of the mounting units in step 206.

However, if at least 4 heating/cooling units 14 are required inparallel, a prioritization order is defined in step 208 depending on themode of the mounting units (heating or holding) and on deviation fromtarget temperatures. In step 210 it is predetermined which powerdistribution is to be performed, in the present example the heating unitof mounting units 102, 104 having the lowest priority is blocked. Thisquery is also repeated cyclically as long as the conflicting paralleloperation of more than 3 mounting units 102, 104 is proceeding.

Referring to FIG. 36, a flowchart for a filling assistant is shown. In astep 230, program flow is started and a first query is made in step 232as to whether the assistant has been enabled. If not, the flowchartaborts and ends at step 260.

If the assistant has been enabled, the query made in step 234 is whetherthe button 96 has been pressed on a mounting unit (MU) 102, 104 and aclosure 120 has been opened. In other words, in step 234 the assistantexpects the selection of a mounting unit 102, 104, for example via thecontrol button 96 on the embedding unit 102, 104 in order to proceedwith the process.

In response to the request or selection of a mounting unit 102, 104, thepiston 23 of the selected mounting unit 102, 104 will be lowered in thenext step 236 (button/switch operation). In step 238, the suction deviceon the selected mounting unit 102, 104 or the central suction device 164is automatically enabled for a predefinable period of time.

In step 240, a query is made as to whether the respective button withrespect to a reverse piston movement has been set in the visualization.If reverse piston movement is desired, the piston movement is reversedin step 242.

In step 244, a query is made as to whether suction switch over has beenset in the visualization. If this is the case, suction is switched overin step 246.

Finally, in step 248, the position sensors 30, 56, 80, 82 are queriedfor the closed position of the sliding closure 120 of the selectedmounting unit 102, 104. If it is determined that the closure 120 iscompletely closed, then the hot mounting can be started in step 250.

Once the hot mounting operation by the selected mounting unit 102, 104has been completed, it is queried in step 252 whether the closure can beopened. If this is the case, the piston 23 is lifted in step 254 and thefilling assistant is terminated in step 260.

The present invention provides for a comfortable, rapid and safeoperation of a mounting press 100, 102, 104 that comprises a suctiondevice, and for an improvement of work safety by the integratedextraction of dusts and/or vapors in a mounting press 100, 102, 104. So,the present invention allows to operate a mounting press 100, 102, 104that comprises the suction device 150 of the invention in a morecomfortable manner and faster, while consistent safety is ensured.

Interruptions in the processing for venting purposes and waiting fordust clouds to disappear are no longer necessary. The invention can becombined with a sliding closure and/or can be integrated in a modularmounting press system. Thus, the sliding closure 120 provides for easyaccess to the upper piston 27 disposed within the sliding closure 120,for example for being easily cleaned or replaced.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the embodimentsdescribed above have to be understood as examples and that the inventionis not limited thereto but can rather be varied in multiple ways withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it will be apparentthat the features, irrespectively whether disclosed in thespecification, the claims, the figures, or otherwise, individuallydefine essential components of the invention, even if they are describedin conjunction with other features. In all the figures, the samereference numerals designate the same elements, so that descriptions ofelements that are possibly mentioned only in conjunction with one or atleast not with all of the figures can also be applied to those figuresin conjunction of which those elements have not been explicitlydescribed in the specification.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Compartment for granular material-   5 Cam lock-   10 Cylinder or mounting cylinder or pressing cylinder-   10 a Sample cylinder-   10 b Pressure cylinder-   11 Cylinder opening-   12 Cylinder axis-   14 Heating/cooling unit-   16 Cylinder head-   17 Cylinder base-   18 Piston-   19 Piston rod-   23 Upper lower piston-   27 Upper piston or pressing piston-   34 Cooling water hose line-   53 Cylinder tube-   55 Hose line or high pressure hose-   56 First position sensor or proximity device-   59 Pivot plate-   60 Lever-   61 Covering plate-   63 Press mold-   64 Sliding guide-   65 Sliding closure-   66 Eccentric bolt-   68 Suction covering-   70 Hydraulic port-   72 Rotary part-   73 Pivot axis-   74 Support plate-   80 Closing lever sensor-   82 Second closing lever sensor-   91 Power distributor-   92 Central control device-   94 Central input device-   96 Control button-   98 Indicator device-   100 Mounting press-   101 Basic module-   102 Internal mounting press-   104 External mounting press-   106 Modular mounting press system-   108 Mounting press connector-   110 Central power supply port-   112 Cooling water inlet-   114 Cooling water return-   116 Cooling water inlet busbar-   118 Cooling water outlet busbar-   120 Sliding closure-   122 Carriage guide-   123 Guide pins-   124 Movement space-   128 Upper piston covering-   130 Closing lever-   132 Closure shaft-   132 a Flattened area of closure shaft-   132 b Flattened area of closure shaft-   132 c Cam-   134 Sliding carriage-   136 Carriage support-   136 Covering-   142 Recesses-   144 Flexible element or spring element-   150 Suction device-   152 Suction opening-   152′ Funnel suction opening-   154 Sliding carriage passage-   156 Suction connection passage-   158 Suction air passage-   158′ Funnel suction air passage-   160 Vacuum generator-   162 Suction filter-   164 Central suction-   170 Filling funnel-   180 Granular material-   202 through 260 Process steps

1. A mounting press for hot mounting a sample, comprising: a mountingcylinder for receiving the sample, having a main cylinder axis and acylinder opening, with the main cylinder axis extending inside themounting cylinder and out of the cylinder opening; a covering extendingaround the cylinder opening; a suction device for extracting granularmaterial dust, granular material, or vapor, for example; wherein thesuction device comprises a vacuum generator for providing a suctioneffect; wherein the suction device is at least partly mounted on thecovering or embedded in the covering.
 2. The mounting press of claim 1,wherein the covering is a covering plate with the cylinder openingrecessed therein; and/or wherein the covering has a carriage guide for asliding carriage.
 3. The mounting press of the claim 2, wherein thesuction device is at least partially integrated in the sliding carriage,or wherein the extracted granular material dust and/or vapors are passedthrough the sliding carriage.
 4. The mounting press as claimed in claim2, wherein the suction device comprises suction openings in the coveringplate, which are arranged around the cylinder opening recessed in thecovering plate.
 5. The mounting press as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising the vacuum generator arranged at the mounting press forproviding the suction effect.
 6. The mounting press as claimed in claim2, further comprising a front side granular material compartment forreceiving granular material residues not fitting through the suctionopening, wherein for example granular material residues can be conveyedinto the granular material compartment by means of the sliding carriageby sliding the sliding carriage onto the cylinder opening prior to usingthe mounting press.
 7. A suction device for a mounting press, whichmounting press comprises a mounting cylinder, a cylinder opening and amain cylinder axis extending through the mounting cylinder, comprising:a covering extending around the cylinder opening; a vacuum generator forproviding a suction effect, for example a fan device; at least onesuction air passage connected to the vacuum generator; at least onesuction opening in communication with the suction air passage andarrangeable adjacent to the cylinder opening so as to allow to achieve asuction effect in the region of the cylinder opening; wherein thesuction device is at least partly mounted on the covering or embedded inthe covering.
 8. The suction device of claim 7, wherein the suctiondevice is adapted to unfold the suction effect directly in the region ofthe cylinder opening of the mounting cylinder.
 9. The suction device asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one suction opening is recessedin the covering laterally spaced apart from the cylinder opening;wherein the at least one suction opening is recessed in the covering orprovided on the covering concentrically around the cylinder opening. 10.The suction device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the covering is acovering plate and has a carriage guide for a sliding carriage.
 11. Thesuction device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a slidingcarriage; wherein the at least one or a further suction opening isarranged on the sliding carriage and is in communication with thesuction air passage through the sliding carriage.
 12. The suction device(150) of claim 11, wherein the sliding carriage has at least one slidingcarriage passage extending through the sliding carriage so as to connectthe at least one suction opening to the suction air passage; and/orwherein the sliding carriage has a suction position in which the atleast one suction opening is in communication with the vacuum devicethrough the sliding carriage so as to be exposed to extracting negativepressure thereby.
 13. The suction device as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe sliding carriage has a position of use in which the sliding carriagecovers the cylinder opening; and wherein the suction device enablesvapor extraction for sucking off vapors arising during the pressingoperation of the mounting press.
 14. The suction device as claimed inclaim 10, wherein at least a section of the suction air passage isembedded in the covering plate so that the suction air passage extendsthrough the covering plate and/or at least a section thereof extendsthrough the covering plate.
 15. The suction device as claimed in claim7, further comprising a filter element disposed at the vacuum generator.16. The suction device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising atleast one further mounting press having a further cylinder opening (11);wherein the vacuum generator is a shared vacuum generator; wherein thesuction device is adapted to unfold the suction effect directly in theregion of the cylinder opening of the mounting cylinder and at the sametime at the further cylinder opening of the at least one furthermounting press.
 17. A modular mounting press system for hot mountingsamples comprising: a basic module for controlling at least one externalmounting press; a first external mounting press separate from andcontrollable by the basic module, and having a first mounting cylinderfor receiving samples; the basic module comprising: a central inputdevice for entering control data for the at least one external mountingpress; a central power supply port for connecting the modular mountingpress system to an external power supply; and a power distributor forproviding the electrical power to the at least one external mountingpress.
 18. The modular mounting press system of claim 17, furthercomprising a hydraulic distributor for supplying cooling water to the atleast one external mounting press.
 19. The modular mounting press systemas claimed in claim 18, wherein the basic module further comprises: atleast one mounting press connector for electrically connecting the atleast one external mounting press to the basic module for transferringthe electrical power required by the at least one external mountingpress as well as control data for controlling the at least one externalmounting press.
 20. The modular mounting press system as claimed inclaim 17, wherein the basic module accommodates a basic module mountingpress in a shared basic module housing.
 21. The modular mounting presssystem as claimed in claim 20, wherein the power distributor distributesthe electrical power to the basic module mounting press and to the atleast one external mounting press while taking into account aprioritization order that can be predetermined by the centralcontroller; and/or wherein the power distributor distributes theelectrical power to the basic module mounting press and to the at leastone external mounting press in a clocked manner when reaching orexceeding a predetermined amount of electrical power.
 22. The modularmounting press system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least onemounting press connector, the central power supply port, and thehydraulic distributor are arranged on a rear side of the basic module.23. The modular mounting press system as claimed in claim 17, whereintwo or three external mounting presses (104) are connectable to thebasic module and all the external mounting presses are controlled andsupplied with electrical power by the basic module.
 24. The modularmounting press system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least oneexternal mounting press comprises an indicator device for indicating theoperating state, for example a color-changing indicator device.
 25. Themodular mounting press system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the atleast one external mounting press comprises a decentralized controlbutton, and wherein for example the decentralized control button alsocomprises the indicator device.
 26. The modular mounting press system asclaimed in claim 17, wherein the basic module mounting press comprises asliding closure; and/or wherein the at least one external mounting presscomprises a sliding closure.
 27. The modular mounting press system asclaimed in claim 17, further comprising a central suction deviceincluding a suction manifold for connecting the basic module mountingpress and the at least one external mounting press to the centralsuction device.